New Zealand Closes Beaches as Containers Wash Up

By

Lucy Craymer And

Rebecca Howard

Updated Oct. 13, 2011 1:37 p.m. ET

TAURANGA, New Zealand—Several beaches on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island were closed to the public from Thursday and operations at the Port of Tauranga will be suspended overnight, after oil and containers from a damaged cargo vessel washed ashore, as salvage efforts remain fraught with danger.

"It is really horrible. I really didn't think it would affect us. It's awful," said Cathy Lake, a 40-year-old...